110 Years Ago - 1910

The family of Walter Keesler, who lives on Cole's Flat, across the river from Long Eddy, were all poisoned the forepart of last week from drinking soured buttermilk and eating cooked stuff that had been made from the buttermilk. One little girl, five years old, died immediately after drinking the buttermilk, while a boy, thirteen years old, drank so much of the buttermilk that he was only affected slightly. The oldest girl, eight years old, is now lying at the point of death and the prospects are that she will never recover. The doctor has given up all hope of saving her. The buttermilk had stood in a tin milk can and as it soured the acid absorbed the lead from the can.

Walter Fuller of Roscoe has leased the Brick Hotel in Livingston Manor and took possession October 1st.

A. Sheard of Calkins has purchased the farm occupied by the late T.C. Ellison, containing 125 acres. Price paid $3,000. Mr. Sheard has occupied the place the past year and already has possession.

Erie Engine No. 2601, which passed through Callicoon a week ago Sunday, one of the largest engines in the world, was derailed at Gulf Summit that night. It was pulling a train of about eighty cars and was running along at a fairly good rate of speed when suddenly it left the track. The big engine pounded along the rails for about 500 yards, tearing off the ends of the ties and tearing up the road-bed for a considerable distance.

The A.S. Wickwire Press of Deposit, owned by A.S. Wickwire, is finishing up the work on hand preparatory to the plant being removed to Binghamton.

The Reliance Hook and Ladder Co. held another practice drill Thursday evening. The boys are becoming quite proficient in handling the apparatus... Quite a number from here attended the Duck Party at Charles Reichmann's Saturday night and according to reports brought home quite a number of ducks... The old pump house, which was partly burned by fire a year ago last August has been torn down and is being rebuilt with concrete, about ten feet nearer the track than it was before. The boiler and pump will be built on concrete bases and a new concrete coal chute will be erected. — Callicoon Corresp.

Ralph Gottschalk and Edith St. John were married Thursday at the home of the bride's parents near Fremont Center. Rev. Bryant of Callicoon performed the ceremony. (Note: Although the 1910 issue of the Democrat says Ralph, we wonder if this is not the late Philip F. Gottschalk of Hankins.)

100 Years Ago - 1920

The marriage of Frances Newport of Braman, Pa., and Floyd Turner of Callicoon, took place at the home of the bride's aunt, Mrs. Frances Mair, October 5. Rev. Floyd Sheeley officiated. The bridesmaid was Florence Mair and the best man was Reuben Newport, brother of the bride.

Talk about honey! Here's a real sweet story. In White's hall, where there once was a door, between two five inch studs, some honey bees located. On ripping off a few pieces of siding there was found as pretty a piece of work as one ever laid eyes on. Completely filling the space was a large piece of comb filled with delectable honey. This was cut out in pieces two feet square and three layers deep aggregating 50 pounds. — Galilee Corresp.

Tuesday there were two distinct rainbows, one on the rising sun and the other at sunset. Very few recall such a phenomenon as two rainbows the same day and in opposite sky lines. — Cochecton Corresp.

Born October 7, to Mr. and Mrs. Emil Rohrman, a son. Mother and babe are doing fine. — Cochecton Corresp.

All the farmers in Acidalia started taking their milk to the Hankins creamery Sunday. The creamery there had been closed for two weeks for repairs. Leslie Milk, who has a large dairy, delivered his cream to Callicoon Center while the Hankins plant was closed.

90 Years Ago - 1930

The Democratic nominee for Member of Congress of the 27th Congressional District, which comprises the counties of Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, Schoharie and Columbia, is Guernsey T. Cross, who is now in Gov. Roosevelt's cabinet with the important post of secretary to the Governor.

The cornerstone of St. Mary's R.C. Church in Obernburg was laid Sunday. Documents in the old cornerstone stated that the original church was built by Fr. Joseph Roesch in 1861.

Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Turner of Conklin Hill were reminded of their 47th anniversary Saturday evening when about 47 of their friends and relatives gathered at their home for a surprise party. Mrs. Otis Turner had called in the afternoon and persuaded them to accompany her home for supper. The couple had 14 sons, 10 of whom survive. Three died in infancy and Emmett was killed in action during the World War. The American Legion Post of western Sullivan is named in his honor.

The State School of Agriculture opened last week with a large enrollment. Leo Wolff of Kenoza Lake has been elected vice president of the Training Class and Vincent Hoffmann of Hankins has been elected treasurer of the class.

Miss Harriett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Breiner, was married October 6, 1930, to Clifford N. Trombley of Plattsburgh, at All Souls Chapel in Shandelee.

Floyd E. Monington and Miss Harriet S. Seipp of Tyler Hill were married October 8, 1930, in Beach Lake, Pa.

Harvey D. English resigned the principalship of the Long Eddy High School to devote all of his time to his moving picture interest, after nine years at the local school. His successor will be Emmanuel F. Ferrera of Deposit, with five years experience, the last two as principal of the school in Kenoza Lake where he was unusually successful.

Leo Rosenberger, son of Mr. and Mrs. George K. Rosenberger of Callicoon, was injured two months ago suffering a broken bone in his ankle and severe injuries to his knee. He was taken from the hospital last week and is staying at the home of his sister in New York. At the time of the accident, Leo was employed in a shipyard and he fell from a high scaffold.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dexter of South Cochecton, a son, James Bernard. Mrs. Dexter was formerly Wilberta Cornwall… A daughter, Ruth Hazel, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell Smith Sunday, October 5, at the home of Mrs. Smith's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Sutliff. — Damascus Corresp.

80 Years Ago - 1940

Miss Kathryn, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Plaskin of Petersburg, and Robert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Bauernfeind of North Branch, were united in marriage at St. Joseph's Seminary, October 12, by Rev. Father Adrian McGonnell.

Fred Hubert of Youngsville and Grace C. Freidenstine of Fremont Center were married Sunday evening, October 13, at the Callicoon Center Parsonage. They were attended by Lem and Johanna Kehrley.… Mrs. Sarah Engert, one of the oldest citizens of Fremont Center, died on October 11. She was born March 29, 1855, a daughter of the late Willis Norton and Amanda Crandell Norton, one of twelve children. She was married to Casper E. Engert, who passed away in 1932.

Sullivan County will be supervised by two draft and advisory boards, one located at Monticello and the other at Liberty. Named to the Monticello board are John D. Lyons, dean of the Sullivan County Bank; Charles P. Kautz, president of the First National Bank, Callicoon, and J. Blake Winter, Supervisor of Mamakating Township. The Liberty board will be formed with Bryan Grant, president of the National Bank of Liberty, Homer C. Baldwin, president of the Sullivan County National Bank and Dr. Leo Wertheim of Mountaindale.

At the Callicoon Hospital it was a baby boy for Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hessberger of Eldred on Friday; Mr. and Mrs. John Driscoll of Kauneonga Lake are the proud parents of a daughter, born Friday; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Mall of Jeffersonville are the proud parents of a son, Richard Hugh, born Saturday; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bartik of Callicoon are the parents of a son born Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. George Bernas, who were married last August, were tendered a shower last Thursday night by the Rosary Society of the Catholic Church at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Lixfield. — Lake Huntington Corresp.

Miss Rita Moser, a senior in the St. Francis Training School for Nurses in Poughkeepsie, and formerly of Callicoon Center, is general chairman of arrangements for a semi-formal dance to be held at the Salier Nurses' Residence in that city on October 25.

70 Years Ago - 1950

Wedding bells rang for Miss J. Eleanor Verderber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Verderber Jr., Callicoon , and Jack E. Sattler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Sattler, Fosterdale, on Saturday, October 14, at the Jeffersonville Lutheran Church… Miss Mary, daughter of Mrs. Howard Marks, Callicoon, became the bride of Nelson Miller of Abrahamsville at the Callicoon Methodist Church on Sunday, October 1… Miss Alice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Boulding of Mileses, and Dorville Finkle of Roscoe, were married September 30 at the Callicoon Methodist Church.

Harvey Bershader, son of Mr. and Mrs. Irving Bershader, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at the Fallsburg Synagogue October 14.

At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a son, Monday, to Mr. and Mrs. William Quinnan of Callicoon RD; a son, Tuesday, to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Mohn of Narrowsburg. Discharged during the week were Mrs. Joseph LeRoy and infant daughter of Callicoon; and Mrs. Robert Sleeper and infant daughter of Cochecton.

Edward Curtis, son of Mr. and Mrs. V.C. Curtis, Callicoon, will soon complete his final stage in flight training and will be presented with the Navy Wings which designate him as a naval aviator. He is stationed at Pensacola, Fla. … Naval Aviation Cadet Gary E. Weiss of the United States Naval Reserve, took off and landed his SNJ “Texan” trainer six successive times recently aboard the USS Wright, cruising in the Gulf of Mexico, to complete his aircraft carrier qualifications.

Seth Lowenstein, 23 months of age, died at the Callicoon Hospital, October 18, after being scalded Sunday when he climbed over the edge and fell into a bathtub in which hot water was being run. He was the son of Sol and Ruth Lowenstein of Petersburg.

The Rock Valley Ladies Aid will serve an oyster stew supper Friday night with oyster stew, salads, baked beans, escalloped potatoes, rolls, pies and all the good things that go with such a supper. Adults, $1; children, 50¢.

Miss Carrie Kehrley died at the home of her nephew, John Gempler, on October 11, at the age of 81… A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Leonardo on October 11, at home. — Jeff Corresp.

Charles Hick of Jeffersonville will head a slate of nominees to be presented at the next meeting of the Sullivan County Historical Society, to replace Kenneth Sprague of Roscoe.

60 Years Ago - 1960

Miss Mary F. Fulton and Donald Deighton were married Thursday, October 6, at the Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church … Miss Lois Gabel and F. Thomas Fulton were married October 8 at the Jeffersonville Presbyterian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. P.F. Gottschalk of Hankins celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 9 at the Flo-Jean in Port Jervis with 33 guests present.

Born at the Callicoon Hospital, a daughter, Saturday, to Mr. and Mrs. Glendon Swendsen of Narrowsburg RD; a daughter, Sunday, to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Daub Jr. of Narrowsburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Behringer of Valley Stream, L.I., announce the birth of a son, October 8. He has two brothers and two sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Behringer of Callicoon are the proud paternal grandparents… Born to Lt. and Mrs. David McDonald at Ft. Meade, Md., a daughter, October 11. Mrs. Josephine McDonald and Mrs. Martha McGrath, both of Callicoon, are the delighted grandmothers.

Sam Moses hooked a nice 24-inch pickerel and Eve Palmer caught a nice 22 1/2 inch specimen in Lake Huntington.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Moran celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at their home in Cochecton by holding open house for their relatives, friends and neighbors.

Beverly Stechmann and Robert Flynn Jr. were married October 1 at St. Andrew's Church in Westwood, NJ… Miss Ann Elizabeth Keifrider of Monticello, a staff nurse at Hamilton Ave. Hospital, became the bride of Peter Kurpil of Parksville Saturday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church in Monticello.

Three-quarters of a ton of turkeys will be required to feed an estimated 1,500 diners at the annual Jeffersonville Fire Department dinner Saturday night, it was estimated by Supervisor Oscar Will. The company is marking its 40th year.

50 years ago - 1970

Kaiema Fr'Senntao, a sophomore at the Delaware Valley Central School, was selected Queen of the first annual Homecoming Day held October 10. Vilho Makela, president of the Booster Club of DVCS, acted as master of ceremonies.

Fred Stabbert III of Callicoon was the winner of the Zone competition of the Ford Company's Punt, Pass and Kick Contest. The Zone encompasses an area from Kingston to Newton, NJ, where the competition was held.

Miss Claudia D. Bryan of Youngsville became the bride of George R. Davidson III of North Branch on September 26 at the Youngsville Community Reformed Church.

The North Jackson, Pa., Methodist Church was the scene of the wedding of Miss Ada Karkkainen and Law­rence Herbert on September 26, 1970.

Mr. and Mrs. Jan Martin (nee Peggy Rosenberger) are the parents of a son born at St. Joseph's Hospital, Lancaster, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Leo Rosenberger of Hortonville are the proud maternal grandparents.

At the Liberty -Loomis Hospital, it was a girl, Beatrice Mae, to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Steele of RD 1, Liberty, on October 3; a girl, Catherine Anne, to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Baim of Youngsville, the same day; October 4, it was a boy, Christopher Lee, to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Brown of Liberty; October 5, a girl, Ann Marie, to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Trask of Walton.

Capt. William Johnson, formerly of Long Eddy, has been assigned to San Diego, Calif. He has just completed a two year tour of duty at the Naval Ordinance Systems Command Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Capt. Johnson and his family visited his mother, Mrs. Catherine Johnson, in Long Eddy before going to their new assignment.

Harold Bjorklund has been proudly exhibiting a 7 pound 9 ounce 29-inch walleyed pike taken in the Delaware River on October 9. He was fishing with Willard English of Long Eddy and is reluctant to say where he made the catch.

40 Years Ago - 1980

Al Meyer, chairman of the Callicoon Board of Fire Commissioners, presented the title to the Callicoon Volunteer Fire Departments' brand new 1980 FMC pumper to Fire Chief Frank Hahn. The fire department held an open house Sunday to show off the new truck to all Callicoon Fire District residents and visiting firemen from other companies.

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Hillriegel of Callicoon are proud to announce the birth of a daughter, Beth Anne, who arrived October 5th. She has an older sister, Shanna, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Lester Hillriegel of Callicoon RD and Norma Hunter of Obernburg are the grandparents. Mrs. Anna Hillriegel of Roscoe and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Worsoe of Obernburg are the proud great-grandparents.

The Oktoberfest held in the Town of Tusten over last weekend was a financial success.

Liberty Hose and Truck Co. No. 2 is celebrating their 80th anniversary this month.

Harold and Florence Norris entertained over three hundred guests at their golden wedding anniversary held at Della Menges' Lakeside Hotel in Shandelee on October 5. Rev. Charles Harder of Hackettstown, NJ, who was the officiating clergy at their wedding at the Fosterdale Methodist Church, was present for the anniversary celebration, together with Mrs. Ralph Pelton of Orlando, Fla., maid of honor, Mrs. Harold Maltby of South Yarmouth, Mass., bridesmaid, and Walter Fischer of Cochecton, usher.

30 Years Ago - 1990

Mary Elizabeth Hornicek and Philip Dnistrian were married at the Hortonville Presbyterian Church on August 11. She is the daughter of MaryEtta and Charles Hornicek of Hortonville. The groom is the son of Bridgitta Dnistrian of Hortonville and the late Peter Dnistrian.

Thirty-two vendors displayed their wares at the fifth annual fair in Wurtsboro which attracted hundreds of buyers.

The DVCS Class of 1965 recently held their 25th class reunion at Harmonie Hall in the Western Hotel in Callicoon.

Bob Lewis and his father, Ken, both former Callicoon residents, had a successful fishing trip to Canada. Bob landed a 30 lb. 48-inch Great Northern pike.

A rare tornado ripped through the Beechwoods section of the Town of Delaware Saturday afternoon, weaving a one-mile trail of destruction, but causing no serious injury. The trailer home of Edward and Ann Hynes was ripped from its foundation and deposited in the middle of the highway. After the twister had passed, insulation from the mobile home could be seen dangling from trees at least 300 yards in the distance. The Hyneses were out for lunch and were overcome by the site when they returned home. Their dog walked out of the destruction shaken but uninjured. Trees were toppled onto the residence of Town of Delaware Building Inspector Al Steppich's house on Tonjes Road, across the valley from the Hynes' home. Other damage reported was two garages damaged, one of which collapsed completely, a chimney was blown over, roofing was ripped from sheds and houses and the catch netting on the driving range at the nearby Villa Roma golf course was torn down. Also damaged at the Villa Roma were some condominiums under construction.

The Antrim Lodge in Roscoe, well known for its hospitality and fine food, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with a gala affair. Town of Rockland Supervisor Lee Siegel and his wife Marge won the waltz contest. Sue Smith won a painting by Francis Davis, entitled “Upper Beaverkill Covered Bridge,” and Donald McCausland was honored as the “longest patron,” having frequented the famous restaurant for over 62 years. Lenna and Socrates Papadimatos own the establishment.

20 Years Ago - 2000

A devastating early morning fire at the Paramount Best Western in Parksville yesterday displaced more than 300 hotel guests and staff members and rousted out scores of firefighters from at least 10 companies to douse the flames. Liberty firefighters, the first to arrive on the scene, were called out at 3:38 a.m., according to a dispatcher at the county's Emergency Control Center. Several companies were still at the scene early yesterday afternoon, more than 10 hours after the initial report, and lists of those companies involved with fighting the fire and the numbers of firefighters involved were still not available. Buses from Rolling V took the guests to a makeshift shelter at Liberty High School as they evacuated the building.

New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall was a guest at the annual Jeffersonian dinner held at the Villa Roma in Callicoon on Sunday. The Democratic fundraiser was dedicated to the memory of the late Judge Lawrence Cooke who would have celebrated his 87th birthday Sunday.

The centerpiece of the annual “Afternoon of History” Saturday afternoon in Grahamsville was Town of Neversink historian Carol Smythe's exhibit of prints made from vintage glass plates, documenting the early history of the area. Local photographer Laverne Black worked with Smythe to recreate the old images. Smythe acquired the glass plates several years ago when she bought and sold antiques from her home in Grahamsville.

The Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation has supplied the Liberty Youth Center with a home, at least for the foreseeable future. The youth center lost its former home more than two years ago when the building was leased to Sullivan County BOCES for adminstrative offices.

10 Years Ago - 2010

After 34 years, the Village of Monticello will be losing Pedro Tweed to retirement. During that time, Tweed helped thousands of kids while working for the village's Recreation Department. He spent the last two years as the Director of the Recreation Department. Along with his renowned gymnastics program, Tweed has been teaching weight training, guitar, tai chi, and aerobic boxing classes for the village.

New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly flew in his Blackhawk helicopter from Manhattan to Keowa Campgrounds - part of the Boy Scouts 10 Mile River Camp - to encourage 148 co-ed campers interested in a future in law enforcement. Kelly spoke to the campers ages 14-20 who were in the last week of a three-week program to introduce them to criminal justice and enforcement. The campers had spent the two previous weeks at Fordham University and were finishing up the program in Narrowsburg.

Thanks to an idea first proposed by Administrator (and hiker) Marc Mendelsohn, Catskill Regional Medical Center's Grover M. Hermann Division in Callicoon now has a near-mile-long walking trail looping around the most wooded sections of its 50 acres along Route 97. The trail was created by Delaware Valley Job Corps Center Facility Maintenance Trade instructor Mike Mahoney and more than a dozen Job Corp students, in concert with CRMC Callicoon Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Holloway, who spent a little over a week clearing brush and trees and laying mulch to make a reasonable smooth and level path.